A regular feature on traditional songs of County Wexford. This week: March to the North

June 21 2018 marks the 220th anniversary of the Battle of Vinegar Hill. A new song written earlier this year by Michael Fortune charts the epic journey undertaken by ‘Pikemen’ from County Wexford following their defeat on Vinegar Hill.

In the knowledge that Antrim had risen they attempted a journey north to Ulster to connect with the United Irishmen there.

Unfortunately they received little support along the way and they were killed in their hundreds en route to Ulster where many are buried nameless in ‘Croppy Graves’.

It is estimated that one fifth of the Wexford population was killed during and in the aftermath of the Rising. In May just gone, this song won first place at the Wexford County Fleadh in the Newly Composed ballads section where I had the pleasure of singing it. It was on the twenty-first of June as eve fell into night

Our hills were red and blushing, from Wexford we took flight.

The English they were on our heels, likewise the dreaded Yeo,

As we marched on through Scullogue Gap and the coast of the Macamores.

We are the boys of Wexford, we are stout, brave, bold and true. But from our own dear native land, the tyrant thorn it grew. Determined for to rid this place, of its evil treachery,

We seized our pikes and joined the ranks to set old Ireland free.

Three thousand of our gallant band, we fled that windmill town. Our women folk and children, by the Hessian crew cut down. To stay and die by Slaney side, ‘twas not to be our fate,

So north we marched towards Ulster, and its men of ninety-eight.

Harassed at every corner, we were hunted night and day.

Our brave group it got smaller, through battles along the way.

Some days we crossed o’er hill and stream, while more through ditch and field. In places we were welcomed, while in more we did not yield.

Tired, foot-sore and weary, we slept in banks and gripes.

We ate what grain our pockets held, which was oft times scarce and light. Kind-hearted folk of Wicklow, they helped us on our way,

And every step that we all took, brought us closer to judgement day.

For three long weeks we held our course to where the north star shone. Though hungry and exhausted, we were sixteen hundred strong.

The United Men along the way, were few and far between,

And at night as we all slept of our Wexford homes we dreamed.

Treachery and treason, was the game of the loyal Meath kin,

In one breath they greeted us, but backs turned they would sing,

“There are Wexford men outside of Slane”, were the words of their cruel song, “Oh quickly muster up the Yeos, or else they will be gone”.

North Leinster’s fields, so far away, were to us a foreign land.

Each road we took was hostile, with no help or guiding hand.

And on the fourteenth day of July, an offensive from the crown At Knightstown Bog in County Meath we were butchered and cut down.

“Make way home to Wexford lads”, were the words of every man, “Save yourselves and save your pikes, for our day will come again”, But later on in Drishogue Lane, we were ambushed heading south, The Kings Dragoons lay waiting and our final cry went out.

Those who did survive Fingal with perseverance sought,

And these lonely Wexford pikemen continued marching south,

They were harried by the hated Yeo every step along the way,

And in these foreign fields, far, far from home, their broken bodies lay.

So come all ye gallant heroes and don’t forget these men,

Thank the people of Fingal and Meath who remembered them,

For these were the boys of Wexford, who fought with heart and hand, To burst in twain the galling chain, and free our native land. Aileen Lambert is a traditional singer from Ballindaggin. She works with various communities on a range of song collecting, composing and performing projects and delivers workshops in Primary Schools as part of the Heritage-in-Schools Scheme. If you have further information on a subject or song featuring in this column, or a song or verse/recitation you’d like to share with Aileen, please contact her on aileenlambert@gmail.com or 087 7552593.